nonsense

1 of 3

noun

non·​sense ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s 

ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s

1

a

: words or language having no meaning or conveying no intelligible ideas

"And the mome raths outgrabe" is pure nonsense.

b(1)

: language, conduct, or an idea that is absurd or contrary to good sense

To regard the struggle for existence as tragic, however, is logical nonsense.

—O. B. Hardison, Jr.

(2)

: an instance of absurd action

Today's teenagers are … sharp observers of the nonsenses of adult life and society …

—Bernard Trafford

2

a

: things of no importance or value : trifles

… the raincoats are classic, without any nonsense.

—New Yorker

b

: affected or impudent conduct

took no nonsense from subordinates

The teacher tolerated no nonsense in her classroom.

3

: genetic information consisting of one or more codons that do not code for any amino acid and usually cause termination of the molecular chain in protein synthesis (see synthesis sense 1)

nonsensical

ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl 

adjective

nonsensically

ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

nonsensicalness

ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl-nəs 

noun

nonsense

2 of 3

adjective (1)

1

: consisting of an arbitrary grouping of speech sounds or symbols

\ˈshrȯg-ˌthī-əmpth\ is a nonsense word

a nonsense syllable

2

: consisting of one or more codons that are genetic nonsense compare antisense, missense

nonsensical

3 of 3

adjective (2)

non·​sen·​si·​cal (ˈ)nän¦sen(t)sə̇kəl 

-sēk-

1

a

: being nonsense or full of nonsense : unmeaning, absurd, foolish, preposterous

asked a nonsensical question

—W. F. De Morgan

refused to modify his opinions, even when the plain facts made them nonsensical

—Douglas Stewart

b

: characterized by or revealing absurd or foolish speech, thoughts, or acts

subjected to strains and stresses by their nonsensical wives

—Irish Digest

2

a

: nonsense sense 3

if nonsensical syllables are used as test material

—G. A. Miller

b

: nonsense sense 2

represented by a few light nonsensical sketches

—Marc Slonim

nonsensicality

ˌ⸗(ˌ)⸗⸗ˈkalətē, 

-ətē, 

-i

noun

plural -es

nonsensically

-sə̇k(ə)lē 

-ēk-, 

-li

adverb

nonsensicalness

(ˈ)⸗¦sen(t)sə̇kəlnə̇s 

-sēk-

noun

plural -es

Synonyms of nonsense

Noun

• garbage
• silliness
• rubbish
• nuts
• stupidity
• blah
• drool
• absurdity
• claptrap
• craziness
• hogwash
• foolishness
• twaddle
• guff
• baloney

Examples of nonsense in a Sentence

Noun

I don't know why you believe that nonsense about certain numbers being unlucky.

She thinks that astrology is nonsense.

Don't listen to him. He's talking nonsense.

He was not in the mood to put up with any nonsense from his little brother.

If they start pushing each other or some such nonsense, send them to their rooms.

She doesn't take any nonsense from anyone.

Many of the words in the poem are nonsense.

I understood so few of the words they were using that the conversation sounded like nonsense to me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The only way real barriers to non-factory service could be required to work on a ladder-frame gas-engine truck would be if the automaker intentionally loaded it with proprietary nonsense. —Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 11 June 2026

Yet more arrant nonsense, coming from someone who has repeatedly been cited for spreading vaccine misinformation. —Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

Adjective

Many of the claims these products make are perfectly legitimate, if a bit goofy; others are transparently nonsense. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026

My older kids were given these nonsense short stories. —Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (1)

circa 1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nonsense

• a lot of garbage/nonsense
• make (a) nonsense of
• no-nonsense
• nonsense verse

Kids Definition

nonsense

noun

non·​sense

ˈnän-ˌsen(t)s, 

ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s

1

: foolish or meaningless words or actions

2

: things of no importance or value

nonsensical

(ˈ)nän-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl

adjective

nonsensically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

nonsensicalness

-kəl-nəs

noun

Medical Definition

nonsense

1 of 2 noun

non·​sense ˈnän-ˌsen(t)s, ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s 

: genetic information consisting of one or more codons that do not code for any amino acid and usually cause termination of the molecular chain in protein synthesis compare antisense, missense

nonsense

2 of 2 adjective

: consisting of one or more codons that are genetic nonsense

nonsense mutations